Delosperma plant named ‘DDLPI02-0’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Delosperma  plant named ‘DDLPI02-0’ is disclosed, characterized by large, pink flowers with a yellow eye. Plants have a low, mounded habit, flower well during Summer and are tolerant to cold and drought. The new variety is a  Delosperma , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Delosperma cooperi.

Variety denomination: ‘DDLPI02-0’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Delosperma cultivar is a product of open pollination by the inventor, at a commercial nursery in NSW, Australia. The open pollination was made in October 2016.

Various unnamed, unpatented proprietary Delosperma varieties were planted in open-pollination crossing blocks and the resulting seed bulk collected. Parent varieties are unidentified. The new variety was selected in October 2017 by the inventor in a group of seedlings at the same nursey in Cobbitty, NSW, Australia.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DDLPI02-0’ by terminal vegetative cuttings was first performed at a greenhouse in Cobbitty, NSW, Australia in October 2017, and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in 6 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DDLPI02-0’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DDLPI02-0’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DDLPI02-0’ as a new and distinct Delosperma cultivar:

-   -   1. Large, round bright pink flowers with a yellow eye.     -   2. Drought tolerant.     -   3. Excellent garden performance in Summer.     -   4. Fully Winter hardy to USDA Zone 5.     -   5. Low, mounded habit.

PARENT COMPARISON

The seed parents are not identifiable.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DDLPI02-0’ are comparable to the variety Delosperma ‘WOWDRY1’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,157. The two Delosperma varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics, however, the new variety ‘DDLPI02-0’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has better cold tolerance than this         comparator.     -   2. The new variety flowers more in Summer than this comparator.     -   3. The new variety has a smaller white/yellow eye than this         comparator.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DDLPI02-0’ are also comparable to the variety Delosperma ‘WOWDRW5’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,572. The two Delosperma varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics, however, the new variety ‘DDLPI02-0’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has better cold tolerance than this         comparator.     -   2. The new variety flowers more in Summer than this comparator.     -   3. The new variety has a smaller eye and a pink rather than         violet petal color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DDLPI02-0’ grown in the ground. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 8 months from a rooted cutting.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close up of typical blooms of ‘DDLPI02-0’.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DDLPI02-0’ plants grown outdoors from Winter to Spring in moderate climate in a greenhouse, in Santa Paula, Calif. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 16° C. to 30° C. during the day and from 9° C. to 16° C. during the night. General light conditions are high light levels 60,000 to 90,000 Lux Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Delosperma cooperi ‘DDLPI02-0’.

PROPAGATION

-   Type of propagation typically used: Terminal vegetative cuttings. -   Time to initiate toots: 14 to 20 days at approximately 16° C. -   Root description: Thin, fibrous, freely branching. Near RHS     Greyed-Yellow 161D in color.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 10 weeks. -   Container size of the plant described: 5 inch. -   Growth habit: Trailing plant with a mounded center. Tender annual. -   Height: Approximately 7 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 33 cm. -   Growth rate: Moderate. -   Branching characteristics: Very freely branching. -   Approximate quantity of lateral branches: Approximately 12 to 20     primary lateral branches, subsequently dividing into numerous     secondary and tertiary lateral branches. -   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 9 to 18 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 4 mm. -   Shape of lateral branches: Round. -   Substance of lateral branches: Succulent. -   Texture of lateral branches: Moderately glossy, moderately dense     coverage of short glandular hairs. Density increases towards     terminal end. Hairs about 1 mm in diameter and height. Colored near     RHS White 155A. -   Lateral branch strength: Somewhat weak and moderately flexible. -   Lateral branch color: Lower surfaces colored near RHS Yellow-Green     145A. Upper surfaces near Greyed-Orange 177C. -   Internode length: Average range 2.9 to 3.9 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Quantity.—4 to 10 pairs, depending upon length of branch.         -   Shape of blade.—Ligulate, triangular in cross-section.         -   Aspect.—Reflexed downward, single center wedged indentation             along length of approximately 70% of blade.         -   Average length.—Average range 3.0 to 4.5 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 4 to 5 mm.         -   Average depth.—4 mm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137B. Young             foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137C. Mature foliage             upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage under side:             Near RHS Green 137B, minutely speckled 138C.         -   Venation.—Indistinguishable from foliage blade.         -   Petiole.—Not present.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period:     -   -   Natural season.—Long lasting flowering period. From March             through December in Santa Paula, Calif.         -   In commercial production, flowering begins from a rooted             cutting.—Approximately 6 to 8 weeks. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Single rotate terminally occurring flowers. Usually 2             single flowers per node. -   Bud:     -   -   Bud shape.—Ovate.         -   Bud length.—Approximately 12 mm.         -   Bud diameter.—Approximately 7 mm.         -   Bud color.—Near RHS Red-Purple N74A.         -   Rate of opening.—Individual flowers: Fully open             approximately 2 days from the bud showing color stage. -   Individual flower:     -   -   Type of individual flowers.—Simple, rotate.         -   Shape.—Radial.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—2 per node, 8 to 20             flowers and buds per lateral branch on a plant of this age             in a 5 inch pot.         -   Diameter of entire flower.—Average range 3.3 to 4.2 cm.         -   Depth of flower.—Approximately 1.2 to 1.5 cm.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—Approximately 8 to 10 days.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Faint, musty scent. -   Petals:     -   -   Quantity.—Average range 30 to 40.         -   Length of petal.—Average range 1.2 to 1.7 cm.         -   Width of petal.—Approximately 2 mm.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Tapered.         -   Shape of petal.—Strap-like.         -   Petal margin.—Entire.         -   Petal arrangement.—Radial, forming 2 whorls around stamens.         -   Petal appearance.—Shiny, iridescent upper surface. Lower             surface shiny.         -   Petal texture.—Smooth, glabrous upper and lower surfaces. -   Color:     -   -   Upper surface at first opening.—Near RHS Red-Purple N74A,             base near Green-White 157D.         -   Upper surface at maturity.—Near RHS Red-Purple N74A, tinged             Purple N78A. Base near Red-Purple 69B and Yellow 4B.         -   Upper surface at fading.—Near RHS Purple N78B, base near and             Yellow 4B.         -   Under surface at first opening.—Near RHS Red-Purple N74B,             base near Red-Purple 69B.         -   Under surface at maturity.—Near RHS Purple N78A, lower             section fading to N78B. Base near Red-Purple 69B.         -   Under surface at fading.—Near RHS Purple N78B, lower section             fading to N78C. Base near Red-Purple 69B. -   Petaloids:     -   -   Quantity.—Average range 20 to 30.         -   Length.—Approximately 3 to 6 mm.         -   Width.—Approximately 1.0 mm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Tapered.         -   Shape.—Linear.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Arrangement.—Radially around stamens.         -   Petal appearance.—Shiny, iridescent upper surface. Lower             surface moderately shiny.         -   Petal texture.—Smooth, glabrous upper and lower surfaces. -   Color:     -   -   Upper surface at first opening.—Upper section RHS Red-Purple             N74A, lower section near Green-White 157D.         -   Upper surface at maturity.—Upper section RHS Red-Purple             N74A, lower section near Red-Purple 69C.         -   Upper surface at fading.—Upper section RHS Purple N78A,             lower section near Red-Purple 69C.         -   Under surface at first opening.—Upper section RHS Red-Purple             N74A, lower section near Green-White 157D.         -   Under surface at maturity.—Upper section RHS Red-Purple             N74A, lower section near Red-Purple 69C.         -   Under surface at fading.—Upper section RHS Purple N78A,             lower section near Red-Purple 69C. -   Calyx: Rotate, 8 mm in depth, 1.7 in diameter (with sepals fully     expanded). -   Sepal:     -   -   Number.—5.         -   Sepal arrangement.—5 sepals in a single whorl.         -   Sepal length.—Average range 5 to 6 mm.         -   Sepal width.—Average range 2 to 3 mm.         -   Sepal shape.—Deltate.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Sepal appearance.—Matte, upper and lower surfaces.         -   Texture.—Glabrous, upper and lower surfaces.         -   Color.—Upper: Near RHS Green 137A. Lower: Near RHS Green             137A. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—Average range 5 to 10 mm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 3 mm.         -   Aspect.—Slightly curved and undulating.         -   Strength.—Weak and flexible.         -   Texture.—Covered in very short glandular hairs.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Number of pistils per flower: 5.     -   -   Pistil length.—Approximately 2 mm. Highly reduced, style and             stigma indistinguishable. All structures colored near RHS             Yellow-Green 144C.         -   Stamens quantity.—Average 40.         -   Stamen length.—3 to 4 mm.         -   Anther shape.—Elliptic.         -   Anther size.—0.5 mm.         -   Anther color.—Near RHS Yellow 5A.         -   Pollen color.—Near RHS Yellow 7B.         -   Pollen quantity.—Moderate.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Delosperma cooperi is recognized to be generally     not susceptible to diseases and pests. The new cultivar shows     neither resistance nor susceptibility to diseases and pests which     might be found on Delosperma. Especially in conditions of too much     soil moisture, crown rot might occur, most likely caused by     Phytophthora. Potential pests include the Aphis genus and the family     Pseudococcidae (mealybug). -   Environmental tolerance: Typically USDA Zones 5 through 9. Plants     are also tolerant drought. -   Fruits and seeds: Not observed to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Delosperma plant named ‘DDLPI02-0’ as herein illustrated and described. 